UConn's ready for another game of name that quarterback

Updated 12:17 am, Saturday, September 10, 2011

Connecticut's Mike Nebrich hands the ball off during his team's 35-3 victory over Fordham last Saturday.

Connecticut's Mike Nebrich hands the ball off during his team's 35-3 victory over Fordham last Saturday.

Photo: Fred Beckham/Associated Press

UConn's ready for another game of name that quarterback

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As his team prepared for its first road game of the season, Saturday night's matchup in Nashville against Vanderbilt, UConn football coach Paul Pasqualoni was asked if he'd prefer to be settled on a starting quarterback by now.

The answer was, well, of course.w

"Yeah, there is a point. I would have liked to make that decision about three or four months ago," Pasqualoni said. "As soon as it's clear, we'll go in that direction."

But after a spring and summer of intense competition, not to mention a Week 1 romp in which everyone had a chance to play, the Huskies' situation is obviously not clear.

Pasqualoni spoke this week about finalizing some of the position battles still raging on his offense, especially at quarterback -- though that choice would likely be between McEntee and Nebrich, with McCummings still getting a few plays here and there. Pasqualoni, about to coach his first road game in his new job, also talked about what he's looking for.

Pasqualoni said his ideal quarterback is someone like Aaron Rodgers, though he admitted he'd settle for a Drew Brees. It's not as if he's expecting either to walk through the door to the Burton Complex.

"Great quarterbacks are hard to find," Pasqualoni said. "If we could find one off those... if any of you guys see one of those, give us a call quick. We'll take that guy in a heartbeat."

If nothing else, McEntee is the UConn quarterback Vanderbilt (1-0) has the most film of. Yes, he took the majority of the snaps in the Huskies' opening romp over Fordham, but there's more. The junior walk-on, who has seemingly assured himself of a scholarship this season, was the star of a trick shot video that became a YouTube hit this summer.

"I was kidding with him during the week that we were going to put Dominoes signs up and throw plates in the air during practice, and that he could aim for those," offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead said.

Now that he's experienced starting a college football game as well as making a playful highlight reel, McEntee realizes which is more difficult.

"College football game," McEntee said. "The YouTube video was my friends. They're good with cameras. That wasn't me. ... There's not a defense right in your face. And no do-overs, no mulligans."

The UConn coaches, too, obviously don't have a chance to restart the season if their quarterback choice flops.

Perhaps that's why they're taking extra time to single out one player. Moorhead, who previously coached at Akron, Georgetown and Pittsburgh, admits it's the first time he's tried to prepare so many quarterbacks for action.

"I have been through an experience where I've played two in a game and prepared two, but never three," Moorhead said. "From a coaching standpoint you have to coach all three guys on the field and in the meeting room as if they're going to be the starter.

"It varies a little bit for Scott because he knows his package of plays is predetermined," Moorhead added. "But, worst-case scenario he would have to go in."

Pasqualoni said when he was at Syracuse, everyone was eager for the Orange to find the next Donovan McNabb. He joked that on his first day of work with the Dallas Cowboys, fellow staffers were hoping to develop the next Troy Aikman.

And during his recent stint in Miami? Well, everyone knows the Dolphins haven't exactly landed the next Dan Marino.

Finding the next Dan Orlovsky for UConn apparently isn't any easier, though at least the Huskies could be closer to simply having a starter after this week.

"There's nothing like playing in games to develop skills at the quarterback position," Pasqualoni said.

"Hopefully, we'll see a little bit more this week. Hopefully, we'll take another step this week."